I once thought that dog socialization meant doggie play dates at my neighbor's house. But, it's so much more than that!  Really, socializing your puppy is about introducing her to everything in our world that she'll come into contact with and that we are so accustomed to that we're not even really aware of anymore. Things like school buses, dishwashers and yes - cats! That means introducing her to different ages and races of people, as well as various places, sights and sounds. For example, small children, garden hoses, sandboxes and even vacuum cleaners. And all of this needs to be done during the first three months of age. This is the age when your puppy has the optimal ability to adapt to new experiences and stimuli.

Yes, genetics plays a big part in defining your puppy's personality and disposition. But exposure to early socialization experiences are also key to creating and defining the healthy foundation required for a happy, stable family dog. And, best of all, we have the ability to provide and control those experiences!  Remember, a well-socialized puppy grows into a confident, curious and friendly adult dog who is able to feel calm and relaxed in new environments. A calm, balanced dog spends more time with his or her family which leads to greater enjoyment for all!

So, in order to ensure that you and your puppy share a lifetime of enjoyment -  begin exposing her to her new world--and do so in a calm, relaxed manner. Encourage and praise her curiosity and self-confidence and teach her some basic rules the moment she comes home-- such as when to eat and where to potty. There are tons of resources available to help you with this very important job including one of my favorite books: The Art of Raising a Puppy, which can be found on the following site:  The Monks of New Skete.  

Also available are puppy classes and programs-- such as our Private Puppy Developmental Program that involves your whole family in a team effort to socialize your puppy.  And because our program doesn't require your puppy to be around other dogs, it allows you to start the training and socialization process before she is fully vaccinated. This gives you a head start that will offer a host of long-term benefits! For more information, please visit the Carolina Dog Training website or call us at 919.349.0000.